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Emergency services arrived quickly after he did, and he did not see the injured man, Gorton said.

Clutha-Taieri area response manager Senior Sergeant Al Dickie said Dunedin and Balclutha police were called to the incident about midday after receiving reports a man's hand had been cut off with a machete.

The alleged attacker was on the lawn when police arrived, Sgt Dickie said.

"There were police dogs and they [police] were armed so he wasn't going to argue with that."

Police directed traffic past the property on Taieri Mouth Rd as an injured man was stretchered away and a woman stood crying on the balcony.